Wall panel layout apparatus

ABSTRACT

A wall panel layout apparatus for laying out bottom and top plates for any size house or similar building, whereby wall panels may be assembled rapidly and accurately by relatively inexperienced personnel.

States Patent 1191 [111 3,785,060 rewer Jan. 15, 1974 [54] WALL PANEL LAYOUT APPARATUS 684,580 10 1901 Miller 33/190 3,137, 47 6 1964 F1 [76] Invent: Lloyd BOX 8158 3,616,240 1111971 3374: 5 1;

Corpus Christi, Tex. 78412 [22] Filed: Sept. 17, 1971 Primary Examiner--Lou1s R. Prince [211 PP NW 181,346 Assistant ExaminerCharles E. Phillips Related Application D Attorney-Pravel, Wilson & Matthews [62} Division of Ser. No. 848,634, Aug. 8, 1969, Pat. No.

52 us. Cl. 33/191, 33/192 [57] ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl. G0lb 5/00 [58] Field of Search 33/190, 191, 150, A wall panel layout apparatus for laying out bottom 33/192 and top plates for any size house or similar building,

whereby wall panels may be assembled rapidly and ac- [56] References Cited curately by relatively inexperienced personnel.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,373.495 3/1968 Grange 333/76 R 7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures 410' JIM 352- iii-: sit:

PATENIEWAPZ 15 mm SHEET 1!)? 4 l qg/a 5 Ewen/er INVENTOR B lmg Mam wm,4,

flTTORNE YS SHEET 4 0? 4 INIEN TOR ATTORNE YS ll WALL PANEL LAYOUT APPARATUS CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a division of my copending U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 848,634 filed Aug. 8, 1969, now US. Pat. No. 3,628,232.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The field of this invention is an apparatus for the layout of wall panels for houses and similar buildings.

In the field of prefabricated homes, as well as custom homes, various procedures and equipment have been proposed to simplify the construction of wall panels, but so far as is known, no one has solved the problem of providing a relatively simple and accurate apparatus for the layout of the boards for the wall panels, whether such wall panels are for prefabricated or custom homes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an apparatus for marking the bottom and top plates for any size house or similar building so that thereafter wall panel may be readily fabricated and joined together to form the exterior and interior walls of the house or other building.

The invention is carried out using the blueprints or drawings customarily prepared by an architect, designer, or builder, with only an overlay or making of special dimensions and panel identification, so that great savings in time and cost are effected by eliminating the need for additional drawings of plans. Using such marked or overlaid blueprints or drawings as a guide, the top and bottom plates for each wall are first disposed end to end in the unique layout apparatus of this invention, and then the plates are marked to locate corners, intersecting walls, window openings and door openings. Also, each pair of plates is marked with an identification designation according to a predetermined code on the blueprint or drawings so that such plates may later be oriented so as to conform to the blueprint or drawings. The top and bottom plates in each pair are then nailed or otherwise secured to interposed studs, jack studs, cripples, spacers, and other conventional boards used in wall construction to form the exterior and interior wall panels. Such wall panels are then connected together on the homesite by relatively inexperienced personnel, and with a minimum of labor time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an isometric view illustrating a portion of wall panels made in accordance with this invention for constructing a typical house or other similar building;

FIG. 2 is a plan drawing of a typical house, with the special markings and identification designations shown therewith for carrying out the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the apparatus of this invention in schematic form, together with a plurality of pairs of top and bottom plates for all the exterior and interior walls which run horizontally as viewed in the plan drawing of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but illustrating the pairs of top and bottom plates for the wall panels running vertically on the plan drawing of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an elevation of the preferred form of the apparatus of this invention; and

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 66 of FIG. 5 to further illustrate the apparatus of this invention, with the portion in dotted lines representing a tilted or raised position of the apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention involves the use of a plan drawing or blueprint of a house or building to which has been added reference measurements, wall panel designators, and indicator arrows (FIG. 2). Using such drawing as the guide, the top and bottom plates, which are usually two by four boards, for each wall panel of the building, are disposed end to end on a table for each exterior wall of the house or building. The bottom and top plates for the interior wall panels are similarly disposed, as will be explained in detail hereinafter. The table on which such pairs of bottom and top plates are positioned is a part of an apparatus A (FIGS. 3-6) of this invention, which is utilized to accurately and rapidly locate and mark on the edges of such plates the position of intersecting walls, corners, window openings, door openings, offsets, setbacks and projections. After the top and bottom plates for the various walls are thus marked or laid out in accordance with the measurements, indicators and designators on a building plan such as illustrated in FIG. 2, the marked top and bottom plates may then be used for constructing the wall panels of the building by nailing or any other construction method so as to obtain a building or house framework F, a portion of which is illustrated in FIG. 1.

Considering this invention more in detail, reference is first made to FIG. 2 of the drawings wherein a relatively simple plan of a house is shown, and to which certain measurements, indicators and designators have 'been added. Although the invention is not limited to any particular code or identification designations for the wall panels, those shown in FIG. 2 are preferred and accordingly are explained hereinafter.

Thus, all of the exterior wall panels have the designation W and all interior wall panels have the designation P. The exterior wall panels W are numbered starting from a suitable corner or reference point such as the upper left-hand corner X as viewed in FIG. 2. The exterior wall panels are shown to be of different lengths with the division between the panels being designated in FIG. 2 by the dot-dash-dot lines, and such panels are numbered consecutively from the starting point X in a clockwise direction. It can be seen from FIG. 2 that there are seventeen exterior wall panels designated in the plan for the exterior walls. A distinction is also made in the code or designators for the panels which extend across the drawing (horizontally) as viewed in FIG. 2 and those which extend up and down in the drawing (vertically) as viewed in FIG. 2. Thus, all of the exterior panels which extend across the sheet having the plan of FIG. 2 have the letter I-I" following the number of the panel, whereas all of those panels extending vertically on the sheet have the designation V following the number of the panel. It should be clear that the method of this invention is initially concerned with the marking of the bottom and top plates or boards which are ultimately used for making the wall panels, and the plates themselves are all horizontal with respect to the ground when the framework is positioned on the homesite. The letter V for the plates which appear vertical on the plan (FIG. 2) does not refer to the studs of the wall panels which actually are vertical when assembled on the plates H and V for forming the wall panels, as will be more evident hereinafter.

The interior wall panels P are also numbered starting from the left and moving to the right, as will be explained more in detail. All of the panels, whether exterior W panels or interior P panels, which are horizontally disposed in the drawing (FIG. 2) are designated with the letter H following the number for the particular panel. Those panels, whether exterior W panels or interior P panels, extending vertically in the drawing (FIG. 2) are designated with the letter V" following the number of the particular panel. After all of the wall panels have thus been coded or designated on the blueprint or drawing, a tabulation or listing of such panels by their coded numbers is preferably made on a separate sheet (not shown). Such tabulation or list normally designates the length or size of each of the wall panels, as well as other information which is desirable in the building of the framework F.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, it is conventional for each wall panel in the framework F of a house to include a horizontal bottom plate and a horizontal top plate 11 together with interconnecting vertical studs 12, plus any jack studs 14, headers 15, sills l6 and cripples 17 which may be required to form a door opening D or a window opening T (FIG. 1). The centers of the studs 12 are preferably spaced sixteen inches apart for the exterior walls and 24 inches for the interior walls, although this may be varied, depending upon construction requirements or specifications for a particular home or building. With the present invention, the top and bottom plates 10 and 11 constitute a pair for each of the wall panels, and the edges of such plates 10 and 11 are marked to indicate where the studs, jack studs, and the like are located for the points at which the corners, intersecting walls, windq'w openings, door openings, offsets, setbacks and other projections are required. The intermediate studs 12 are not marked on the plates 10 and 11 under normal circumstances since they are readily placed at their 16 inch centers manually or in any suitable nailing or other panel assembly machine.

To properly locate the studs for the window openings, door openings, corners, and intersecting walls, the method of this invention includes initially placing dimensions on the plan drawing for the house or building such as shown in FIG. 2. The specific dimensions have not been shown in FIG. 2, but the dimension arrows are shown and the procedure is described in detail hereinafter for the upper exterior wall having the wall panels WlH through WSH. Thus, all of the dimensions are marked beginning from the starting corner or point X shown in FIG. 2. Many of such dimensions are identical with those already shown on the drawing by the architect or other person who made the drawing, and therefore, the full use of such work is utilized. The dimension 20 is the distance from the starting point X to the 24 is the distance from the starting corner X to the center of a door D-l which is formed in the panel W3H. The dimension 25 is the distance from the starting corner X to a window T-3 in the panel WSH. The dimension 25 is the complete length of the exterior upper horizontal wall shown in the particular plan illustrated in FIG. 2.

In this invention, for the disposition of the top and bottom plates for the upper exterior wall of FIG. 2 having the panels WlH through WSH, the top and bottom plates for the first panel WlH are positioned on a table or support 30 of the apparatus A (FIGS. 3-6) with the lefthand ends of the plates in contact with a starting point stop 31 disposed over the table 30 with a suitable bracket or support 3112. The top and bottom plates and 111 for the first wall panel WlI-I are disposed on their edges and are positioned longitudinally on the table 30 and parallel to each other so as to form the first pair of plates for the set of plates or boards designated WA in FIG. 3, which set is the complete set of top and bottom plates for forming the upper exterior wall for the house shown in the plan of FIG. 2. The top and bottom plates for the wall panel W2H are next disposed on the table 30, on their edges and with their lefthand ends in abutment with the righthand ends of the top and bottom plates for the wall panel WlH. The top and bottom plates for the wall panel W3H are next disposed on the table or base 30 with their lefthand ends in abutment with the righthand ends of the plates for the panel W2I-I. The top and bottom plates for the panel W4I-l are then disposed on the table 30 with their lefthand ends in abutment with the righthand ends of the plates for the panel W3H, and the boards for the panel W5I-I are disposed on the table 30 with their lefthand ends in abutment with the righthand ends of the plates for the panel W4H. Thus, all of the top and bottom plates are disposed in pairs so as to extend longitudinally on the table 30 end to end so that the full length of such plates equals the full dimension 25 as shown in FIG. 2 for that one side of the house or building.

Before describing the manner in which the top and bottom plates are marked, it should be noted that the same procedure is used for the lower exterior wall as seen in FIG. 2 so as to dispose the set SB (FIG. 3) with the top and bottom plates for the wall panels W14H through W9H disposed end to end longitudinally on the table 30. The starting point for the panels W14H through W9H is designated X-l in FIG. 2, and in the plan illustrated in FIG. 2, such corner or point X-l is in alignment with the point or corner X and therefore the ends of the top and bottom plates for the panel Wl4I-l are also in contact with the starting point stop 31 as seen in FIG. 3. It should be noted that the length of the top and bottom plates for the various panels is not necessarily the same. Such lengths will vary, providing they are multiples of 16 inches so as to accommodate the sixteen inch centers for the studs 12 on the exterior panels. Normally, the longest two by four board used for the top and bottom plates is thirteen feet four inches, although the invention is not limited to any particular dimension.

The dimensions from the starting point X-l for the set of wall panels WB forming the lower part of the exterior wall of the plan shown in FIG. 2 are indicated with dimension markings in FIG. 2, but the actual dimensions have been omitted for clarity of the drawing. Some of such dimensions are described hereinafter so as to more readily refer to the wall panels illustrated in FIG. 1, but all of the dimensions are not marked since the procedure is repetitious. Thus, the wall panel W14H has the door opening D (FIGS. 1 and 2) and the dimension to the center of such door D is designated with the numeral 26. The dimension 27 in FIG. 2 is the distance from the starting point in X-l to the intersecting wall formed by the panei Pl IV. The dimension 28 is the distance from the starting point X-l to the window T in the panel W13H. All of the other dimensions to the other window openings, door openings, offsets, etc. are similarly included, using the starting point or corner X-l so that all measurements of the plates for marking purposes are made from the starting point stop 31 when the boards of plates are laid end to end on the table 30.

When carrying out this invention, the set of plates or boards WA may be placed on the table 30 and marked separately from the rest of the boards, or the sets WA and WB may be placed on the table 30 and marked so as to designate the location of the studs, jack studs and the like for the corners, intersecting walls, window openings, door openings and the like, essentially at the same time. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the horizontal interior top and bottom plates for the interior P panels may also be laid out on the table 30 for marking at the same time. Thus, all of the horizontal panels are laid out on the apparatus A at the same time if desired. The panels P are shown as laid out in four sets PA, PB, PC and PD, although, in practice, the interior panels may be arranged somewhat differently so long as the operator has the proper measurements from the starting point 31. For example, with the first pair of plates for the wall panel PlH on the left in the set PA, the left end of such plates are spaced by spacer block or blocks 32 from the stop 31 by a distance equal to approximately the width of the two by four plates forming the lefthand wall of the building so that all measurements are in effect made from the starting corner X and dimensions can be accordingly placed on the blueprint or drawing for the interior panels in the same manner as for the exterior panels, if desired. However, for the sake of clarity, such inside dimensions may not be included in the drawing and have not been included in FIG. 2. The top and bottom plates for the interior sets PA through PD are shown in FIG. 3 with the markings for the various door openings, window openings, corners and intersecting walls, and the procedure for marking them is substantially the same as hereinafter described with respect to the exterior panels. Spacer blocks (not num bered) such as blocks 32 (FIG. 3) are provided to properly position and hold the interior plates to prevent them from shifting around when they are being marked.

Referring now in particular to FIGS. 1-3, the location of the markings for the set WB (FIG. 3) will be described, particularly in conjunction with the framework F which is shown in FIG. 1. The relationship of the markings on the top and bottom plates and 11 of the first wall panel Wl4I-I in the WB set can be more clearly seen in FIG. 1. First of all, the lefthand ends 10a and 11a of the plates 10 and 11, respectively, are in abutment with the stop 31. The righthand ends 10b and 11b are shown between the double marked lines 50 in FIGS. 1 and 3, as will be more fully explained. Beginning at the lefthand end of the panels 10 and 11 in FIGS. 1 and 3, and comparing same with the plan view shown in FIG. 2 of such panel Wl4I-l, the location of the studs 42 for the comer are marked on the edges of both of the plates 10 and 1 l by two bands or stripes with a stripe 43 therebetween which locates spacers 41, which are conventional short lengths of two by four boards, which are disposed between the corner studs 42. The width of each of the bands or stripes 40 is preferably approximately the width of the edge of the studs 42, which is approximately one and one-half inches. A color coded marker which is one and one-half inches wide is preferably used. The stripe 43 between the stripes 40 may be marked with a different color. For example, the stripes 40 may be black, and the stripe 43 therebetween may be blue so that a person may readily observe such marking and tell that it represents a corner.

The location of the studs 12 for the door opening D are marked on the plates 10 and 11 by stripes 45, and these are also preferably black since they are complete studs. The jack studs 14 are located adjacent to the door studs 12 and marks 45a are provided for such jack studs, preferably in a different color such as green so that the door opening D will be readily recognized.

The next marking on the plates 10 and 11 for the wall panel W14H occurs at the intersecting wall Pl 1V (FIGS. 1 and 2). The studs 12 for the intersecting wall or tee are designated by stripes 47 which are preferably black in color since the studs 12 are full length. Spacer blocks 46 are disposed between the studs 12 for the intersecting wall, as is typical in home construction, and preferably the plates 10 and 11 are marked at 48 be tween the stripes 47 with a wide stripe 48 which has a red color. In this way, the intersecting wall or tee is likewise distinctively marked. At the ends of the plates 10 and 11 for the panel W14H, one and one-half inch stripes 50 are also preferably indicated to show the location of the end studs 12. However, such stripes are not required since it will be understood that studs 12 will be required at such points.

The location of the studs 12 for the window opening T is marked on the top and bottom plates for the panel W13H by stripes or marks 51 which are preferably in black. The jack studs 14 for the window T are marked with the stripes 52 and also are preferably green, although a different color may be utilized for indicating that the markings relate to a window instead of a door. Such procedure is repeated for all corners, intersecting walls, door openings, offsets. setbacks and other projections throughout the length of the wall set WB. The

same procedure is also used for marking the set WA, and the sets interior panels PA through PD.

In addition to the stripes or marks for the various studs as described above, it is preferable to also include an arrow on each of the bottom and top plates of the set WA running in the direction of the arrow 55 (FIG. 2). The set WB is marked with an arrow running in the direction of the arrow 57 in FIG. 2. The direction of the arrows as shown is thus clockwise and indicates to the manufacturer or builder the side of the plates which serve as the exterior of the building for receiving the brick or other facing. It is to be noted that the exterior V panels on the right are also marked with an arrow in the direction of the arrow 56 and the exterior V panels on the left are marked with an arrow in the direction of the arrow 58, also going clockwise. A reversal of the direction of such arrows to a counterclockwise direction on all exterior walls accomplishes a reversal of the plan without actually modifying the plan itself. This serves as an economical means for reversing a house plan when such is desired. Each of the plates in each pair is also marked or tagged with the wall panel designation such as W1H" so that when they are removed from the apparatus A, they may still be readily identified for subsequent assembly into wall panels and the framework F. After the H boards are all marked as shown in FIG. 3 for the W and P panels, they are removed and the studs are nailed or are otherwise secured thereto to form the wall panels. That leaves the table 30 clear for receiving the top and bottom plates for the exterior walls for the exterior V panels. Such plates forming exterior sets WC and WD, and interior sets PE through PK are next laid on the table 30 as shown in FIG. 4. Thus, the set WC of the pairs of top and bottom plates for the wall panels shown on the left exterior wall in FIG. 2 is disposed along the table 30 at the top as viewed in FIG. 4. The set WD which forms the right exterior wall of the house shown in FIG. 2 is disposed at the bottom of the table 30 as viewed in FIG. 4. The interior panel sets PE through PK are disposed in between. Normally, the user will turn the plan ninety degrees in a clockwise direction so that the corner X-l becomes the upper lefthand corner from which the operator or user refers. The measurements to the center line of the windows, intersecting walls, doors, and other marked items are all dimensioned in the same manner as described heretofore, but using the corner X-l as the lefthand reference point. It is to be noted that since the lefthand ends of the top and bottom plates of the panel section WlSV are disposed inwardly a distance equal to the width of the plates used in the panel W14H by spacer blocks 33, the lefthand ends of the plates for the panel WV are positioned approximately four inches from the stop guide 31 in FIG. 4. In this manner, all measurements may be made using a tape measure or ruler such as indicated at 60 (FIGS. 3-6) which has its zero point in line with the stop 31, as will be more evident hereinafter.

The interior V panels in the plan of FIG. 2 are likewise measured from the corner X-l and the top and bottom plates therefor are positioned on the table 30 in accordance with the position of the panels on the plan of FIG. 2. This can be seen by a comparison of the arrangement of the top and bottom plates for the interior V panels in FIG. 4 with the relative positions of such panels in FIG. 2. Spacer blocks (not numbered) are provided between some of the pairs of plates for the interior panels to maintain the plates in the proper relative positions where the plates do not engage adjacent plates, so that such boards for the panels do not shift around when they are being marked.

For rapidly and accurately marking the proper width for the door openings and the window openings, the apparatus A may be used. Such apparatus A is shown in detail in FIGS. 5 and 6, and is schematically shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The apparatus A includes a carriage 65 which may be formed in numerous ways, but as illustrated it includes two longitudinally extending carriage plates 65a which are joined together by transverse carriage 65b, preferably using bolts 65c. Four pillow block bearings 66 are suitably attached to the carriage 65 for rotatably supporting two axles 67, each of which has a forward roller 68 and a rearward roller 69.

A track is provided for such rollers 68 and 69 by a front rod 70 and a rear rod 71 which is parallel thereto.

Such rods and 71 are parallel to each other and extend longitudinally and parallel to the table 30. The rods 70 and 71 may be suitably supported in any manner, but preferably they are supported by a sheet metal frame 72 which is open between the rods 70 and 71 which is bolted by bolts 72a or other suitable means to the rearward part of the table 30 or other suitable base. As will be more fully explained, the track rod 70 serves as a pivot point about which the rollers 68 may pivot, but the weight of the carriage 65 and the parts connected therewith is distributed so as to normally maintain the apparatus A pivoted to the solid line position of FIGS. 6, wherein the rollers 69 have their upper portions in engagement with the track rod 71 as shown in FIG. 6. However, the entire apparatus A may be raised or tilted to the dotted line position of FIG. 6, as will be more evident hereinafter, by a pivoting of the roller 68 about the rod 70, with the apparatus A having a portion thereof which is lowered into the open space between the rods 70 and 71.

The carriage 65 has mounted thereon an upper guide tube 75 and a lower guide tube 76 which are fixed with respect to each other and with respect to the carriage 65. The upper guide tube 75 receives a longitudinally slidable measuring bar 77 having a gear rack 77a on its lower surface. The lower guide tube 76 receives a similar longitudinally slidable measuring bar 78 having a gear rack 78a on its upper surface. At the righthand end of the upper measuring bar or member 77, a side indicator member or plate 80 is welded or is otherwise secured. A similar side indicator member 81 is welded or is otherwise secured to the lefthand end of the measuring bar or member 78. As the measuring bars 77 and 78 are moved towards and away from each other, the space between the side indicator members 80 and 81 is varied to indicate the size ofa window or door opening, as will be more evident hereinafter. A center line reference with respect to such side indicator members 80 and 81 is obtained by a center line bar or plate 82 which is suspended from any suitable bracket 82a connected to the carriage 65 by one or more bolts 82b (FIG. 5). Normally the center bar 82 does not have a support at its outer end, but the side indicator members 80 and 81 preferably have outer roller supports, one of which is illustrated at 80a for the outer end of the side indicator member 80. The roller 80 is secured by any means to the outer end of the member 80 and is adapted to roll on the upper surface of the table 30 as shown in FIG. 6. A similar roller is provided for the member 81 (not shown) and also a similar member may be provided for the center line member 82.

For coordinating the movement of the side members 80 and 81 so as to accurately indicate the width of a door or window opening on the edges of the top and bottom plates for each of the wall panels, a rotatable gear 85 is mounted for engagement with the teeth on the gear racks 77a and 78a. A window 75a is provided in the guide tube 75, through which the teeth of the gear 85 extends. Also, a window 76a is provided in the upper surface of the guide tube 76 through which the teeth of the gear 85 extend. The gear 85 is mounted on a shaft 86 which extend through an upright support plate 87 and a front plate 88 (FIG. 6). A handle 86a is disposed on the shaft 86 for rotating the gear 85 to move the members 77 and 78 with respect to each other.

The measurement indicator bar 78 is calibrated in units relating to the sizes of windows for various building constructions. A hairline indicator plate or measurement indicator 90 having a hairline 90a is mounted on the front of the guide tube 76 to indicate the size of size of door such as a door of two feet three inches in width, the gear 85 is rotated until the measurement bar 77 shows two feet and three inches below the hairline 91a. At that time, the arms or members 80 and 81 are disposed the correct distance apart for such door width opening. The markings for the door openings on the measurement bar 77 are not necessarily the same as those for the measurement markings for the window openings on the measurement bar 78 since the rough openings for the doors and windows vary, depending upon the particular type of doors or windows employed. The indicator member 90 is preferably magnetic or otherwise movable to different positions relative to a window 76b, so that the size of the opening for a particular window design may be compensated for by moving the indicator plate or member 90 to a different position over the window 76b and the guide tube 76. The indicator 91 is likewise adjustable relative to the window 75b so that adjustment may be made with the indicator 91 to accommodate doors of different constructions which require different rough size openings for desired final sizes of doors. Such adjustments can be readily made, and once the calibration or setting is obtained, the apparatus is simply used thereafter by dialing the, correct dimension for the finished door or window on the proper scale.

The measuring tape 60 is fixed to the apparatus A alongside the table 30, preferably on the upstanding support board 92 and it has its zero point 600 in alignment with the inner edge 31a of the stop 31 so that all measurements with respect to the plates for the wall panels originate at the edge 31a of the stop 31. A sighting hairline 93 is provided on a bracket 93a disposed on the carriage 65, and such sighting hairline 93 is in alignment with one edge 82a of the center line bar 82 (FIG. 5). Thus, the center of the carriage 65 is located by sighting the hairline 93 over the tape 60 so that the distance of the center line for a window or door opening measured by simply sighting the tape 60 through the hairline or viewer 93 to thereby locate the center line bar 82 in the proper position over the two by fours forming the top plates for the various wall sections.

To facilitate the use of the apparatus A, such apparatus A preferably has a holder which includes a horizontal board 98 and a substantially vertical board 99, for supporting a copy of the house plan, materials list and other suitable information used by the operator for-laying out the wall panels. Also, a suitable bracket 100 having a plurality of ink cups 101, 102 and 103 is preferably mounted on the apparatus A to support a plurality of ink markers 104, 105 and 106. Such markers 104,

105 and 106 are special markers having a width of approximately one and one-half inches and each is a different color for using the color coding preferably used with this invention, as previously explained.

Thus, as explained in detail above, the pairs of top and bottom plates forming each exterior wall are disposed end to end on their edges on the table 30 with the left end of each of the top and bottom plates in the first wall panel in contact with the end or surface 31a of the stop 31. Using the dimensions marked on the blueprint or drawing shown in FIG. 2, the distances to the studs, jack studs and the like for the various window openings, door openings, corners, intersecting walls and the like are marked, using the inking markers 104, 105 and 106, or any other suitable marking means. The measurements are made starting from the edge 31a of the stop 31, since the ruler or measuring tape 60 has its zero point 60a in alignment with such surface 31a.

When it is desired to mark off a window opening, the carriage of the apparatus A is moved to position the hairline or center line on the indicator 93 over the distance such center line of the window is from the zero or starting point X or X-1 on the blueprint or drawing shown in FIG. 2. For example, the distance indicated by the dimension 20 in FIG. 2 is the distance for the center line of the window T-l. The center line distance from the stop surface 31a is thus obtained for such window T-l, and the center line member 82 is moved to the right until its edge 82a is at such distance as read on-the top by the hairline indicator 93. Then, the gear 85 is rotated by rotating the handle 86 until the reading at the hairline 90a indicates the size of the window opening desired. Thus, if it is to be a window having finished dimensions of two feet three inches, such reading will appear at the hairline 90a when the arms 80 and 81 are the proper distance apart for the rough opening for such size of window. Since the members 80 and 81 extend perpendicularly to the plates, their edges are used for straight edges for marking the stripes on the edges of the boards, as previously explained. Thus, the stripes for the jack studs wouldfirst be marked on the outside of each of the members 80 and 81, and then the stripes or marks for the full studs would be marked outwardly of the jack studs and adjacent thereto, preferably using the color code previously described.

If the opening is for a door, the same procedure is followed as for a window opening, except that the calibration or markings on the member 77 at the hairline 91a are referred to for indicating the door opening size.

It should be noted that the center bar 82 is located so that it may be used for the distance marker from the zero end 60a of the tape 60 and the carriage may be moved manually by moving the center line bar 82 to the right from the zero point 60a the distance indicated by the dimensions on the drawings of blueprint of FIG. 2 for a particular stud location. Thus, to mark the dimension 21 shown in FIG. 2 for the intersecting wall, the bar 82 is moved until it has reached the dimension shown for the distance 21 on the drawing and the marks or stripes corresponding to the marks 47 and 48 (FIGS. 1 and 3) are applied to the edges of the top and bottom plates for that wall panel. The same procedure is followed for the other tees, corners, etc. to be marked on the edges of each pair of top and bottom plates for each wall panel.

From the foregoing, it can be seen that great savings in time and cost can be effected in that any blueprint The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention are illustrative and explanatory thereof, and various changes in the size, shape, and materials as well as in the details of the illustrated construction may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for wall panel layout, comprising:

a table for receiving pairs of bottom and top plates of at least one exterior wall of a building disposed end to end;

a track disposed alongside of and parallel to said table;

a carriage adapted to be moved on said track;

a stop at one end of said table for serving as a starting point for the bottom and top plates disposed thereon centerline locating means on said carriage and movable therewith for locating a point on said plates corresponding to the centerline of each window opening and door opening;

measuring means on said carriage and movable therewith for measuring an equal predetermined distance on each side of said centerline to define the opening for the window or door; and

said measuring means including a pair of longitudinally spaced side indicator members disposed above the plates on said table, and means for moving said members parallel to said track, and toward said centerline away from locating means equal amounts to indicate the width of the window opening or door opening to be marked on the plates.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for moving said members longitudinally includes:

a guide head having upper and lower guide tubes;

a lower longitudinally movable measuring member having a measuring scale thereon and slidably disposed in said lower guide tube and having an upper gear rack therewith;

an upper longitudinally movable measuring member having a measuring scale thereon and slidably disposed in said upper guide tube and having a lower gear rack therewith; and

a rotatable gear disposed between said guide tubes and in engagement with said upper gear rack and said lower gear rack for causing said measuring members to move longitudinally away from each other together and longitudinally towards each other together to adjust the width of the opening between said side indicator members.

3. The structure set forth in claim 2, including:

a measurement indicator mounted on said lower measuring member and longitudinally movable relative to the measuring scale therewith for adjusting its position to provide for variable rough size openings; and

a measurement indicator mounted on said upper measuring member and longitudinally movable relative to the measuring scale therewith for adjusting 12 its position to provide variable rough size openings. 4. The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein said measuring means includes:

a measuring scale for window sizes; a measurement indicator mounted on said scale and longitudinally movable relative thereto for setting a selected extra width required for the rough size of the window opening, whereby the finished window opening may be read on said measuring scale with said measurement indicator after said measurement indicator has been set to provide for said extra width. 5. The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein said measuring means includes:

a measuring scale for door sizes; a measurement indicator mounted on said scale and longitudinally movable relative thereto for setting a selected extra width required for the rough size of the door opening, whereby the finished door opening may be read on said measuring scale with said measurement indicator after said measurement indicator has been set to provide for said extra width.

6. The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein said measuring means includes:

a measuring scale for window sizes;

a measurement indicator mounted on said scale and longitudinally movable relative thereto for setting a selected extra width required for the rough size of the window opening, whereby the finished window opening may be read on said measuring scale;

a measuring scale for door sizes;

a measurement indicator mounted on said scale and longitudinally movable relative thereto for setting a selected extra width required for the rough size of the door opening, whereby the finished door opening may be read on said measuring scale with said measurement indicator after said measurement indicator has been set to provide for said extra width.

7. An apparatus for wall panel layout, comprising:

a table for receiving pairs of bottom and top plates of at least one exterior wall of a building disposed end to end;

a track disposed alongside of and parallel to said table;

a carriage adapted to be moved on said track;

a stop at one end of said table for serving as a starting point for the bottom and top plates disposed thereon;

centerline locating means on said carriage and movable therewith for locating a point on said plates corresponding to the centerline of each window opening and door opening;

measuring means on said carriage and movable therewith for measuring an equal predetermined distance on each side of said centerline to define the opening for the window or door; and

said carriage having two sets of longitudinally rollers, each set of which has a forward roller and rearward roller;

said track being formed by parallel rear and front rods, the rear one being engaged by the upper part or the rearward rollers, and the front rods being engaged by the bottom part of the lower part of the forward rollers; and

said carriage having sufficient weight forwardly of being pivotable upwardly about said front rod to said track to normally maintain said rollers in enprovide increased access to said table to facilitate gagement with said rods as said rollers move along the positioning of the plates thereon. said track, but the forwardpart of said carriage 

1. An apparatus for wall panel layout, comprising: a table for receiving pairs of bottom and top plates of at least one exterior wall of a building disposed end to end; a track disposed alongside of and parallel to said table; a carriage adapted to be moved on said track; a stop at one end of said table for serving as a starting point for the bottom and top plates disposed thereon centerline locating means on said carriage and movable therewith for locating a point on said plates corresponding to the centerline of each window opening and door opening; measuring means on said carriage and movable therewith for measuring an equal predetermined distance on each side of said centerline to define the opening for the window or door; and said measuring means including a pair of longitudinally spaced side indicator members disposed above the plates on said table, and means for moving said members parallel to said track, and toward said centerline away from locating means equal amounts to indicate the width of the window opening or door opening to be marked on the plates.
 2. The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for moving said members longitudinally includes: a guide head having upper and lower guide tubes; a lower longitudinally movable measuring member having a measuring scale thereon and slidably disposed in said lower guide tube and having an upper gear rack therewith; an upper longitudinally movable measuring member having a measuring scale thereon and slidably disposed in said upper guide tube and having a lower gear rack therewith; and a rotatable gear disposed between said guide tubes and in engagement with said upper gear rack and said lower gear rack for causing said measuring members to move longitudinally away from each other together and longitudinally towards each other together to adjust the width of the opening between said side indicator members.
 3. The structure set forth in claim 2, including: a measurement indicator mounted on said lower measuring member and longitudinally movable relative to the measuring scale therewith for adjusting its position to provide for variable rough size openings; and a measurement indicator mounted on said upper measuring member and longitudinally movable relative to the measuring scale therewith for adjusting its position to provide variable rough size openings.
 4. The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein said measuring means includes: a measuring scale for window sizes; a measurement indicator mounted on said scale and longitudinally movable relative thereto for setting a selected extra width required for the rough size of the window opening, whereby the finished window opening may be read on said measuring scale with said measurement indicator after said measurement indicator has been set to provide for said extra width.
 5. The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein said measuring means includes: a measurinG scale for door sizes; a measurement indicator mounted on said scale and longitudinally movable relative thereto for setting a selected extra width required for the rough size of the door opening, whereby the finished door opening may be read on said measuring scale with said measurement indicator after said measurement indicator has been set to provide for said extra width.
 6. The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein said measuring means includes: a measuring scale for window sizes; a measurement indicator mounted on said scale and longitudinally movable relative thereto for setting a selected extra width required for the rough size of the window opening, whereby the finished window opening may be read on said measuring scale; a measuring scale for door sizes; a measurement indicator mounted on said scale and longitudinally movable relative thereto for setting a selected extra width required for the rough size of the door opening, whereby the finished door opening may be read on said measuring scale with said measurement indicator after said measurement indicator has been set to provide for said extra width.
 7. An apparatus for wall panel layout, comprising: a table for receiving pairs of bottom and top plates of at least one exterior wall of a building disposed end to end; a track disposed alongside of and parallel to said table; a carriage adapted to be moved on said track; a stop at one end of said table for serving as a starting point for the bottom and top plates disposed thereon; centerline locating means on said carriage and movable therewith for locating a point on said plates corresponding to the centerline of each window opening and door opening; measuring means on said carriage and movable therewith for measuring an equal predetermined distance on each side of said centerline to define the opening for the window or door; and said carriage having two sets of longitudinally spaced rollers, each set of which has a forward roller and rearward roller; said track being formed by parallel rear and front rods, the rear one being engaged by the upper part or the rearward rollers, and the front rods being engaged by the bottom part of the lower part of the forward rollers; and said carriage having sufficient weight forwardly of said track to normally maintain said rollers in engagement with said rods as said rollers move along said track, but the forward part of said carriage being pivotable upwardly about said front rod to provide increased access to said table to facilitate the positioning of the plates thereon. 